Don't know where to go! Help!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, so I'm going into my senior year of high school in Michigan this fall. I have a 3.93 GPA weighted and 3.9 unweighted, resulting in me being ranked 16 out of around 360 students. By the time I graduate, I will have taken 1 AP class and 4 IB classes. I've taken the ACT twice and gotten a 31 both times. I love computer programming and plan on majoring in computer science. I'm a member of the golf team, robotics, DECA, H.Y.P.E. (club promoting enthusiasm for my school), and have been hired as a full year employee in our school store. I also have received a scholarship from my school district to attend a leadership camp after being nominated by teachers, and also received a scholarship from Dow Chemical to attend an engineering camp. I am currently serving an internship as a full time employee at a tech company in Washington D.C. as well. </p>

<p>Within months I'm going to be applying to college and really have no idea where I want to apply. As of now, I'm considering Michigan State, Wisconsin, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Cal-Berkeley. I'm extremely social, interested in Greek Life, and want to go to a school that is fun, while at the same time is very educational. Sports are also a huge factor for me as well. I have had season tickets for Michigan State football and basketball since I was 5, resulting in a love for college sports and also Michigan State. </p>

<p>Several months ago, I took a tour of Clemson and fell in love, but lately I have been questioning the academics and if I would truly be applying myself by attending there. Michigan State has been my dream school my whole life and I would definitely consider myself a "superfan" of their athletics, but I also realize that I can probably attend somewhere with better academics, even though it breaks my heart. In addition, my two best friends are most likely going there. To me, Wisconsin seems like a great fit, other than the fact that I hate cold weather, and again, I really have no idea how good their computer science program is and if I would be over or under qualified. Lastly, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Berkeley are all "reaches" suggested by my dad. I would love to go to any of these schools, but I'm not sure of the likelihood that I would get in. And before you all say it, I WILL NOT attend U of M. I know it is really stupid, but I've been an MSU guy my whole life and could never step foot on that campus. </p>

<p>Any comments or suggestions are welcome, whether you have any information about any of the schools I listed (especially in the Comp. Sci. Dept.), if you think I will get accepted to these schools, or if you think that I've left some out that I should consider. Any input is appreciated! Thanks! </p>

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<p>have you asked your dad how much he’ll pay for all those OOS publics that will expect you to pay full OOS costs?</p>

<p>You dont have to worry about the academics at Clemson. You have a decent chance at all schools. They would welcome your family’s OOS checks. </p>

3

<p>Would you consider trying to join an honors program? That may give you the competition that you crave.</p>

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<p>as I recall, Clemson has the Calhoun honors program, and you’ll find lots of smart students there. It’ll also give you a chance to get out of the midwest and see another way of life. Clemson has a merit award for OOS that would give you 7500-15K. I think Clemson and MSU make excellent academic safeties; they have to be absolutely affordable to be true safeties. </p>

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<p>If you have been looking at the middle quartile test scores and that is the reason you are questioning the academics of MSU or Clemson, then that isnt going to be accurate for a CS or eng’g major. The CS/Engg classes at any of these state schools are going to be largely concentrated with the upper quartile students. The academics will be set at a standard that those who cant cut it will be weeded out. The courses arent dumbed down so that the average student can pass them. </p>

<p>If I remember correctly (or unless things have changed, Calhoun is extremely hard to get into. It is a highly competitive and small program. I wouldnt count on an ACT 31 being admitted, unless the OP is a URM or has some special hook.</p>

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<p>I still like you for academic safety at MSU, but mom2 is correct about Clemson engineering and calhoun. I’m messing up tonight.</p>

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<p>You are being dumber than a rock to not take advantage of the high quality of your in-state flagship. Don’t let stupid “school pride” get in the way of getting a great education. It would be ridiculous to pay more to attend UCB (equivalent school to Michigan, but twice the cost to attend) or the other academically inferior schools you have listed. Seriously… just because you have always rooted for MSU is not a reason to turn a blind eye to a fabulous in-state school. Many, many students would love to have your choice. “I could never set foot on that campus” tells me you haven’t even been on a tour or explored what they have to offer academically.</p>

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<p>Berkeley will charge you full fees.</p>

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<p>All the schools you are interested in are good schools that you will get a good education should you decide to attend one of them.
However, we are in a world where everything is driven by statistics, and some schools are are better than others, at-least academically.
Getting admitted to Vandy, Berk and Virginia does represent that small group of elites on the top of the statistics…
I am also under the impression that your dad is aware of the cost that he will pay to these schools if you choose to go there, after-all he suggested them for you.
So if your dad suggested them, check them out, but it does not mean you should go just because you were admitted. BEST FIT is what you should go for.
In addition, hoping to continue your HS friendship at college is not always the best thing. College is a time to meet new people. make new friends and learn new things. You do not want to show up in college and stick with the same group of friends you had in HS for your entire college life.
Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>I’m starting to really like Wisconsin… What do you think my chances are of getting in there?</p>

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<p>Based on the info I have, and not including those essays and letters of rec, Wisconsin probably would accept you. Your ACT score alone is above their 75%, and your GPA and ranking are very good.</p>

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<p>“Academically inferior”? I think that’s pretty debatable but high school students have strong pro and con feelings all the time about their in-state school and given some of the dumb reasons they give for not wanting to consider any schools in the south (for example), why criticize the OP for a common reaction. UM is an excellent school but so are Wisconsin and Clemson and I don’t believe he would get a lesser education in CS at either of them.</p>

<p>Maybe UM could be called a “bad fit” for this particular applicant; that’s legitimate isn’t it (or are schools in the US News top 30 assumed to be exempt from that criteria)?</p>

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<p>I’ve heard that for Computer Science, where you go to college doesn’t matter as much. Would it really make much of a difference if I went to Wisconsin or Clemson? At Clemson I have scholarships that would allow me to get through school debt free whereas if I went to Wisconsin, I would have to take out some loans (relatively small, probably 10-15 thousand). Is it worth going to Wisconsin, which I think is generally looked at as a better school especially for Computer Science, or does it not make much of a difference compared to going to Clemson?</p>

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<p>10-15K for a CS major probably won’t break the bank, but it will take some time to pay off and will have some effect on your credit rating when compared to a debt-free credit rating, which could put you into a car and mortgage sooner. Clemson Honors is supposed to be pretty sweet, and the campus is nice. It probably isn’t Wisconsin but it is 10-15K cheaper. </p>

<p>Would there be any difference in the amount of school-year money-making you’d need to do at one school vs. another? CS can be pretty intense, and it might be a benefit to not have to work during the school year.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I haven’t put a ton of thought into it yet, but as of now I don’t plan on working during the school year, but that is definitely subject to change.</p>